James douglas



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES DOUGLAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF EXTRACTING COPPER FROM ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 563,143, dated June 30,1896. Application filed April 11, 1895- Serial No. 545,389. (Nspecimens.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES DOUGLAS, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Process of Extracting Copperfrom Ores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to the extraction of copper, andparticularly to a process for extracting the copper from the solidcuprous chlorid, by means of electrolysis. The process also includescertain steps hereinafter referred to, and pointed out in the claim.

The solid cuprous chlorid may be obtained from the copper-bearing ore byvarious processes, but in practice I prefer to obtain said chlorid inthe following manner, namely, first producing a solution of coppersulfate, then adding a chlorin salt, and precipitating copper in theform of solid cuprous chlorid by means of sulfurous-acid gas, thereaction being as follows:

electrodes of an electric circuit inserted into i the solid mass, saidmass being preferably slightly moistened with water slightly acidified,if desired, to render the electrolytic action easier. By the action ofthe electric current the solid cuprous chlorid is converted into copperand chlorin, or its compounds, and by continuing the operation everytrace of copper can be extracted, while the chlorin can be collected inWater-bottles, if so desired.

I prefer to electrolyze the solid salt by immersing both electrodestherein, inasmuch as the internal resistance is somewhat reduced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

The herein-described method of extracting copper from solid cuprouschlorid, which consists in moistening said solid cuprous chlorid withWater, inserting both electrodes of an electric circuit in the saidsolid cuprous chlorid, and then passing [an electric currenttherethrough, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES DOUGLAS. Witnesses:

GEORGE NOTMAN, C. A. AUSTIN.

